Highlights
- •This study investigated the degree of cervical disc degeneration on MRI.
- •Mild cervical disc degeneration observed in healthy subjects even in their 20 s.
- •Cervical disc degeneration progressed with age, especially after the 40 s.
- •The age-related changes of disc degeneration were shown, mainly at C5/C6 level.
- •The progression of cervical disc degeneration was correlated with loss of mobility.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to establish the age-related changes and gender-specific
differences of cervical disc degeneration using magnetic resonance image (MRI) and
to evaluate the correlation between the severity of cervical disc degeneration and
mobility in asymptomatic subjects. A total of 1,211 relatively healthy volunteers
(606 males and 605 females, mean age 49.5 years) without neurological symptoms underwent
MRI. At least 100 males and 100 females in each decade of life between the 20 s and
the 70 s were included. This study was part of a larger project and used some previously
published data. Cervical disc degeneration was defined according to the modified Pfirrmann
classification system. A total disc degeneration score (DDS) was calculated by the
summation of individual Pfirrmann scores from C2/C3 to C7/T1. Cervical range of motion
(ROM) was measured by radiograph. The total DDS increased gradually with increasing
age in both genders. DDSs were lower in females than in males in all decades. A DDS
of 13 or more was found in more than half the cases in the 40 s or older age groups.
The total DDS was 13 or more in over 95% of the cases in the 70 s age group. The total
DDS was significantly and negatively correlated with cervical ROM overall (r = − 0.46, p < 0.0001) and in both men (r = − 0.52, p < 0.0001) and women (r = − 0.40, p < 0.0001). This large-scale cross-sectional analysis of cervical spine MRI data in
healthy subjects demonstrated that cervical disc degeneration progresses with age,
and is correlated with a reduction in mobility.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
March 21,
2022
Received:
December 23,
2021
Identification
Copyright
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